I´ll be honest: Chelsea are on form

The difference between our squad last season and this is that our team spirit has improved. We´ve got a few foreign players, a good mix really. And the spirit´s great. It´s hard to pinpoint a particular reason for that; it´s just come together through the way we´ve been playing and training.

Starting every game has helped me get into more of a rhythm. When there´s always another game round the corner it helps you to keep improving steadily. You want to play as many games as possible. Teams that do well are in a lot of competitions. But they get through them, perhaps not easily, but their bodies get used to it. It´s just a case of keeping yourself mentally right all the time.

I´m hoping I can maintain my performances. You have to keep yourself really fit nowadays because the game is so fast. The fitness and training regimes have changed a lot since I started playing around ten years ago. There are different structures. You can´t keep running people into the ground like they did in old-school football because you´ll just beat your body up. You need to take rest when it´s due and have a good mix.

We had a good win over Middlesbrough in our last match. When you´re down the bottom of the table as they are you need that extra something in terms of togetherness. It´s where you need to bring a lot of experience to bear. Boro are perhaps not as experienced as other sides. They´ve got a lot of very good young talent. There wasn´t much difference between us until we got the second goal. It was a tough game. I do think they´re a good team. If they can keep their side together it´s a team for the future.

We know what it´s like to be in their position having been through a relegation battle last season. Of course everyone always goes out and tries their hardest but in that situation you´ve got to have that extra edge, run that extra yard. You might not feel like your body can do it but when you´re down there you have to. If we hadn´t done that we would have been relegated.

Today we face Chelsea. I watched them beat Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday. It was a very entertaining game. They´re in good form. I´ll be honest. They´re in very, very good form.

These are the games you want to play, to test yourself. If take something out of the game at Stamford Bridge we´ll have done a very good job. They´re going to be on a high so it´s going to be tough. But this is what it´s all about.

Chelsea play a 4-3-3 these days. As a fullback playing against three strikers, that restricts your game and stops you getting forward as much. There´s a lot of onus on full-backs to get forward and create and be involved. But against a 4-3-3 you have to be cautious, time your runs, and pick your moment to go forward.

Chelsea look to pass the ball around but at the same time they can rough it as well. They´ve got a perfect mix. That´s what all the good teams need. I´ve played against Chelsea a few times and I´ve always enjoyed it. That isn´t going to change at the weekend. Round about this time last season we went there and got a draw, so we know what we´re capable of.